Birthdays in Jewish History

The First Birthday

The first individual to celebrate a birthday was Adam. Well, considering that he wasn't "born," the stickler will argue that he didn't really have a "birthday"; but nonetheless, his first day on earth was quite eventful.

Adam was created on the first Friday, the sixth day of creation, after G‑d finished setting the cosmic birthday table with the heavens and earth; sun and moon; plants and trees; beasts, fowl and fish. Shortly after Adam's creation, still on the same Friday, G‑d formed and breathed life into Eve.

The results were considerably worse than a bad stomach acheThough there is no record of them partaking of a birthday cake, they celebrated by partaking of another delicacy—the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. The results were considerably worse than a bad stomach ache.

We celebrate the birthdays of Adam and Eve every year. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, isn't observed on the day when the world was created, but six days later, on the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. That is the day when everything truly began; the day when the Creator's vision of dwelling in a human-crafted home went into motion.

An Intimidating Guest

"And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned" (Genesis 21:8).

According to one opinion expressed in the Midrash, this feast celebrated Isaac's thirteenth birthday; the day when he was "weaned" from childhood and assumed the responsibilities of a Jewish adult. According to another opinion, this feast occurred on his second birthday. Either way, it was a birthday celebration.

According to tradition, Isaac was born on Passover. As such, the "great feast" must have featured matzah and kosher for Passover cuisine. But the cuisine wasn't the main attraction—it was the distinguished guest list that included all the who's who of the time.

One of the VIPs was Og, the king of Bashan, a gargantuan man with superhuman strength. He condescendingly commented: "Why is everyone fussing over this child? With my pinky I can end his life!"

G‑d wasn't too pleased with this hubris. "Just wait. You will live to see hundreds of thousands of this boy's descendants. In fact, your end will be at their hands..."

The first scriptural reference to a birthday party is in the Book of GenesisAnd that's precisely what happened—years later when he was vanquished by the Moses-led Israelite armies.

A "Memorable" Birthday Party

The first scriptural reference to a birthday party is in the Book of Genesis. Pharaoh hosted a grand birthday party for all his ministers. During the course of the party he remembered two of his chamberlains, his chief butler and baker, whom he had incarcerated because of their negligence while on duty. Exactly as a Hebrew youth, Joseph, had foretold three days earlier, Pharaoh pardoned the butler and restored him to his post. The baker, on the other hand, was sent to the gallows.

Until 120 Years Old... Really!

A common Jewish birthday wish is, "May you live until 120." In the Torah we find a personality who lived until 120—on the nose. We're talking about Moses, the greatest prophet of all time, who was born and passed away on the same date—the 7th of Adar.

Centuries later, when Haman wished to exterminate the Jews, he threw a lottery to determine the most propitious month to implement his nefarious plan. Haman was elated when the lottery chose the month of Adar, "this is the month when Moses, the Jews' savior, died!"

But Haman didn't know that Adar is also the month when Moses was born. And the auspiciousness of a birthday offsets any negative qualities associated with death. The rest is history...

A Mournful but Ultimately Joyous Birthday

The redeemer was born the moment after the destructionThe saddest day on the Jewish calendar is the 9th of Av, the date when – among other tragedies – both holy temples were destroyed, leading to our nation's exile from the Holy Land. Nevertheless, our sages tell us that despite the sadness and pain, this is the birthday of Moshiach, our future redeemer:

"On the day that the Holy Temple was destroyed, a Jew was plowing his field when his cow suddenly called out. An Arab was passing by and heard the low of the cow. Said the Arab: 'Jew, Jew! Unyoke your cow, free the stake of your plow, for your Holy Temple has now been destroyed.' The cow then lowed a second time. Said the Arab: 'Jew, Jew! Yoke your cow, reset the stake of your plow, for the Redeemer has now been born...'"

The redeemer, and with him the potential for redemption, was born the moment after the destruction.

I was born on a Friday. From what I read Jews born on Friday are "doers of good deeds." Well, I hope I have lived up to that by saying the Kaddish for my father for 11 months including taking off from work for the first 6 mos. I also gave blood for an ill retired ball player. I hope the Almighty remembers that when I come in front of him for judgement.
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Alexander Pym AllisonNigeriaDecember 9, 2018

The Ancient Jews considered Birthday celebrations a pagan custom. Only one birthday was recorded in the Hebrew scriptures and it was that of Pharaoh a pagan ruler of a Pagan Nation that opposed true worship at that time.
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AnonymousNew York CityFebruary 9, 2019

in response to Alexander Pym Allison:

Thank you, Alexander. That is exactly what I was told by a learned man when I asked why wedidn't celebrate birthdays in my family. This was true for my 4 grandparents, Orthodox peoplewho came here from different countries in Eastern Europe.

Children are weaned around 2-3 years of age. What made you think that Issac was 13?
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MendelcaracasJune 17, 2017

Re: baal shem tov
to R. Zalmythe Baal Shem Tov was born on a Monday, chai elul 5458/1698the Alter Rebbe was born on a Wednesday, chai elul 5505/1745(sefer hasichos 5703 page 141 on the left column)
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AnonymousatlantaOctober 27, 2013

First Chassidic Rebbe IS...
The first Chassidic Rebbe is Moshe, Moses!
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R. Zalmy AUSTNovember 4, 2012

Re: baal shem tov
To Gershon from London, U.K.:

No. The Baal Shem Tov was the first Chassidic Rebbe, founder of the entire Chassidic movement, but the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi - who was born on Chai Elul - was the first Chabad Rebbe.
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Maayan GavHaHarOctober 27, 2011

Thanks for the responce, r. Kaminker.I was wondering when was that midrash written? Because a transcription and two spelling mistakes will make an aramean(which makes more sence in the historical context) into an arab.

Response to Maayan
Actually, the Midrash is mentioning the word "arab." It is possible that the word "arab" was used to describe the Ishmaelites.
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Maayan GavHaHarToronto, CAnadaOctober 26, 2011

the story of the Jew and the Arab
actually, in +70 there were no arabs. The closest to them at the time were nabateans. The original story may reference some other gentile nation. Dear Chabad.org, please fix it!
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Anonymouslondon, ukAugust 6, 2011

birthdays
can you please tell me, is there anywhere in the Torah where it states an annual practice of celebrating birthdays is to be followed? Many thanks
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AnonymousNovember 16, 2010

yitzchak's birthday
the gemara in rosh hashana (I think 13b) proves clearly from a verse that yitzchak was born on the first day of succos contrary to popular belief.
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being born on first day of Passover
who else besides Issac was born on the first day of Passover?
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AnonymousNovember 12, 2009

Matza at Ytchak's Birthday????
God didn't give Moses the Torah until long after the death of the patriarchs. I mean, where in Torah is there any indication that any of the patriarchs celebrated Pasach. Bit of a stretch, even for the religious ....
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Rivkatrenton, njNovember 9, 2009

Isaac's birthday
well, i have an answer to your question. although the holiday didn't occur until years later, it was already written in the Torah which is timeless. We are told that our forefathers observed the mitzvos even though they hadn't yet been commanded.I hope this answers your question.
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Menachem Mendel ben HillelCoral Springs, FLJuly 27, 2009

Isaac's Birthday
How could Isaac been born on Passover and have matzah and kosher for Passover cuisine when Passover didn't occur until the time of Moshe Rabbeinu?
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